Sealed toilet

ABSTRACT

A toilet comprising a bowl and an enclosure. At least one of the bowl and enclosure are movable relative to the other of the bowl and enclosure between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the bowl is sealably enclosed within the enclosure and a vent is operable to admit air into the enclosure.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a system and method for flushing atoilet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system andmethod for flushing a toilet having a movable bowl.

Many toilets include a bowl having a fluid path that includes a trap toallow water to remain within the bowl. Following use, a flush operationdrains the contents of the bowl and refills the bowl with a quantity offresh water. During the flush operation, the contents of the bowl oftensplash and expel minute droplets of fluid into the air. Small aircurrents easily disperse these droplets, thus producing a cloud ofinvisible droplets. The droplets may contain small solid particles,microbes, or viruses. Thus, the act of flushing the toilet, undercertain conditions, may contribute to the spread of communicablediseases (e.g., Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS))

Often, toilets are contained within small rooms that include vent fans.Operation of these vent fans draws air out of the room during a flushoperation, further spreading the cloud. The increased spread of thecloud increases the likelihood that any disease borne in the waste willbe spread.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a toilet comprising a bowl and anenclosure. At least one of the bowl and enclosure are movable relativeto the other of the bowl and enclosure between a first position and asecond position. When in the first position the bowl is sealablyenclosed within the enclosure and a vent is operable to admit air intothe enclosure.

The invention also provides a toilet comprising a housing at leastpartially defining a flush space. A movable wall is movable between afirst position and a second position. The movable wall and the housingcooperating to define the flush space. A vent is in fluid communicationwith the flush space and is operable to admit air into the flush space.A flushable bowl is coupled to at least one of the movable wall and thehousing such that when the movable wall is in the first position, theflushable bowl is sealably enclosed within the flush space.

The invention also provides a method of flushing a toilet. The methodcomprising providing a movable bowl, moving the bowl into asubstantially air tight enclosure, and initiating a flush operation. Themethod also includes admitting air into the air tight enclosure througha vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description particularly refers to the accompanying figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sealable toilet in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sealable toilet of FIG. 1 in theclosed position with the doors removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sealable toilet of FIG. 1 in theclosed position with the doors closed;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a limit switch positioned in a cabinet; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the cabinet including a sealmember.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and the arrangements of components set forth inthe following description or illustrated in the following drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof“including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof is meantto encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalence thereof as wellas additional items. The terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” andvariations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirectconnections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms“connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof are notrestricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a sealable toilet 10 including a bowl 15, acabinet 20, and two doors 25 is illustrated. The bowl 15 is similar tocommon bowls used in standard toilets. The bowl 15 includes a trapportion 30 and a pivotable seat 35. The pivotable seat 35 attaches tothe bowl 15 and provides additional comfort when using the toilet 10.The seat 35 can be pivoted up or can be placed on the bowl surface foruse.

The trap portion 30 provides a trap that facilitates the flushingoperation and provides an air tight seal between a sewer system or othercollection system and the bowl 15. The air tight seal inhibits theadmission of sewer gas into the toilet 10 during periods when the toilet10 is not being used.

The bowl 15 is supported by a pivotable arm 40 that attaches to aninterior of the cabinet 20 or to another surface and is movable betweenan opened position and a closed position. The pivot arm 40 supports thebowl 15 and has sufficient strength to support the weight of a personseated on the bowl 15. When positioned in the open position asillustrated in FIG. 1, the toilet 10 can be used. However, in thisposition, the bowl 15 cannot be flushed as will be described below.

The cabinet 20 at least partially defines an enclosed space 45 that islarge enough to contain the entire bowl 15 when the arm 40 is moved tothe closed position. The two doors 25 attach to the front of the cabinet20 and are movable between an opened position and a closed position.When the doors 25 are in the open position, they allow access to thebowl 15 and movement of the bowl 15 between the opened and closedposition. In the closed position, the doors 25 sealably contact thecabinet 20 to close a cabinet opening 50. In some constructions, one ormore latches hold the doors 25 firmly in the closed position. In otherconstructions, one or more biasing members such as springs or doorhinges bias the doors 25 into the closed position. It should be notedthat while two doors 25 are illustrated, other constructions may use asingle door or more than two doors to fully enclose the enclosed space45.

In some constructions, a seal member, such as a rubber seal 55 (shown inFIGS. 2 and 5) extends around the cabinet opening 50 and contacts boththe doors 25 and the cabinet 20 when the doors 25 are in the closedposition. FIG. 5 illustrates one possible configuration of the rubberseal 55 with many other configurations being possible. In addition,there is no requirement that the seal 55 be rubber, as many othermaterials are well suited to providing a seal between the doors 25 andthe cabinet 20. The seal 55 improves the airtight seal and inhibits theunwanted flow of air out of the enclosed space 45.

An air vent 60 extends into the cabinet 20 to provide a flow of air intothe cabinet 20 during a flushing operation. The air vent 60 may includea check valve or flow restriction that inhibits air flow from theenclosed space 45 to the atmosphere, while allowing substantially freeflow into the cabinet 20.

FIG. 2 shows the bowl 15 in the closed position within the enclosedspace 45 with the doors 25 removed from the cabinet 20. As should beclear, the entire bowl 15 fits within the enclosed space 45. Because thebowl 15 pivots through an arc, a rotatable coupling is provided toinhibit leakage during movement of the bowl 15, while still allowing thewater from the bowl 15 to properly drain during a flush. In anotherconstruction, a flexible pipe is employed to allow the bowl 15 to pivotwhile maintaining a water tight seal.

Turning to FIG. 4, a sensor, such as a limit switch 65, is illustratedas being located adjacent the doors 25 to detect when the doors 25 arein the closed position. While many types of sensors 65 are possible(e.g., proximity probes, optical sensors, and the like) limit switches65 are illustrated. The limit switches 65 open or close a circuit inresponse to the doors 25 being fully closed. The switch 65 of FIG. 4extends beyond the closed position of the door 25 such that the closeddoor 25 depresses the switch 65 and opens or closes a circuit. Whileboth doors 25 are shown with limit switches 65, other constructions mayemploy a single switch 65.

Some constructions may employ sensors that indicate the position of thebowl 15 as well as, or in place of the sensors that detect when thedoors 25 are closed. These sensors can be used alone, or in conjunctionwith the limit switches 65 depending on the arrangement of the toilet10. For example, in one construction movement of the doors 25 and thebowl 15 are linked, thereby allowing a single bowl sensor to indicatewhen the bowl 15 is in the closed position and the doors 25 are also inthe closed position.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cabinet 20 is shown with the bowl 15 inthe closed position and the doors 25 attached and located in the closedposition. As can be seen, the bowl 15 is completely enclosed within thecabinet 20. A switch or flush button 70 located on the outer surface ofthe cabinet 20 is operable to initiate the flushing sequence. In otherconstructions, the switch 70 is located on the outer surface of the door25 rather than the cabinet 20. In still other constructions, theflushing sequence initiates automatically when the doors 25 are closedand no button 70 is required.

In operation, a user opens the doors 25 and pivots the bowl 15 to theopen position. In some constructions, a linkage between one or both ofthe doors 25 and the bowl 15, or a biasing member automatically pivotsthe bowl 15 into the open position as the doors 25 are opened. Onceopened, the bowl 15 can be freely used. To flush the bowl 15 after use,the user first pivots the bowl 15 back into the cabinet 20 and thencloses the doors 25. The user depresses the flush button 70 to initiatethe flush sequence. If the user depresses the flush button 70 before thelimit switches 65 are both actuated, the bowl 15 will not flush. Thus,the limit switches 65 assure that the bowl 15 is sealed in the enclosedspace 45 before the flush sequence begins.

In some constructions, a solenoid operated valve opens in response tothe flush button 70 to initiate the flushing sequence. A closed circuitresults when the flush button 70 is depressed and the limit switches 65indicate that the bowl 15 and the doors 25 are in their closedpositions. Once flushing is initiated, the solenoid operated valve opensto admit a quantity of water into the bowl 15. Following the admissionof water, the flush sequence proceeds in much the same manner as astandard toilet.

It should be noted that while the description herein and the figuresdescribe a bowl 15 that pivots between an open position and a closedposition, other constructions may employ other types of movement. Forexample, one construction may employ a bowl that slides or extends in asubstantially linear or a non-linear fashion.

In other constructions, a combination of linear and pivoting motion maybe used. In still other constructions, the bowl remains stationary andthe cabinet or a portion of the cabinet moves to enclose a bowl that isfixed in a stationary position. For example, one construction employs apivotable cover that sealably engages the outer surface of the bowl suchthat the cover covers the top opening of the bowl. In this construction,much of the bowl remains visible, however the top opening of the bowl issubstantially sealed from the environment.

In still another construction, a bowl is fixed within a sealable roomhaving a door. In this construction, the user enters the sealable roomto use the toilet. After use, the user exits the room and closes thedoor to seal the room in order to flush the toilet.

In yet another construction, both the bowl and the cabinet move togetherto enclose the bowl. Thus, as one of ordinary skill will realize, thereare many ways to enclose the bowl within a sealable enclosure.

It should also be noted that the foregoing discussion described asealable enclosure. It should be understood that the term “seal” or anyderivation thereof should be understood as substantially preventing theflow of fluid. However, the term “seal” or any derivations thereofshould not be interpreted as requiring a perfect or hermetic seal.Rather, as applied to the present invention, the seal need only be goodenough to substantially inhibit the flow of air into or out of theenclosed space 45 through any route other than the vent 60.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in thefollowing claims.

1. A toilet comprising: a bowl; an enclosure, at least one of the bowland enclosure movable relative to the other of the bowl and enclosurebetween a first position and a second position, when in the firstposition the bowl is sealably enclosed within the enclosure; and a ventoperable to admit air into the enclosure.
 2. The toilet of claim 1,wherein the enclosure includes a movable portion and a stationaryportion and wherein the bowl is coupled to the movable portion.
 3. Thetoilet of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a check valve that inhibitsflow out of the enclosure.
 4. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the bowlincludes a top opening and wherein the enclosure includes a cover thatsealably engages the bowl to cover the top opening.
 5. The toilet ofclaim 1, further comprising a sensor positioned to detect when the bowland enclosure are in the first position.
 6. The toilet of claim 5,wherein the sensor includes a limit switch.
 7. The toilet of claim 5,further comprising a flush mechanism operable in response to the sensorto flush the bowl.
 8. The toilet of claim 7, wherein the flush mechanisminhibits flushing when the bowl and enclosure are in any position otherthan the first position.
 9. A toilet comprising: a housing at leastpartially defining a flush space; a movable wall movable between a firstposition and a second position, the movable wall and the housingcooperating to define the flush space; a vent in fluid communicationwith the flush space and operable to admit air into the flush space; anda flushable bowl coupled to at least one of the movable wall and thehousing such that when the movable wall is in the first position, theflushable bowl is sealably enclosed within the flush space.
 10. Thetoilet of claim 9, further comprising a hinge connected to the movablewall and the housing to allow the movable wall to move between the firstposition and the second position.
 11. The toilet of claim 9, wherein thevent provides the sole air flow path into the flush space when themovable wall is in the first position.
 12. The toilet of claim 9,wherein the vent includes a check valve that inhibits flow out of theflush space.
 13. The toilet of claim 9, further comprising a sensorpositioned to detect when the movable wall is in the first position. 14.The toilet of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes a limit switch. 15.The toilet of claim 13, further comprising a flush mechanism operable inresponse to the sensor to flush the bowl.
 16. The toilet of claim 15,wherein the flush mechanism inhibits flushing when the bowl andenclosure are in any position other than the first position.
 17. Amethod of flushing a toilet, the method comprising: providing a movablebowl; moving the bowl into a substantially air tight enclosure;initiating a flush operation; and admitting air into the air tightenclosure through a vent.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisingsensing when the bowl is within the enclosure.
 19. The method of claim17, further comprising preventing the initiating step unless the bowl iswithin the enclosure.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprisinginhibiting the escape of air out of the vent.